Gandhian Era Notes for SSC Exams

The Gandhian Era (1915 to 1947) is the most important part of the freedom struggle in SSC exams. In this period, Mahatma Gandhi led the national movement through non-violence and mass participation. Questions are asked on the year of each movement, the cause, the place, the pacts and the Viceroy at that time. These Gandhian era notes for SSC give a clear timeline, tables and practice questions in simple language.

Gandhi's Early Movements in India (1917 to 1918)

Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh (1919)

• The Rowlatt Act (March 1919) allowed the arrest of people without trial. It was called the "Black Act".
• Gandhi started the Rowlatt Satyagraha as a protest.
• On 13 April 1919, General Dyer ordered firing on a peaceful crowd at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
• The Hunter Commission was set up to inquire into the incident.
• Rabindranath Tagore returned his knighthood in protest.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920 to 1922)

• It was approved at the Calcutta special session of the Congress in 1920 and confirmed at Nagpur.
• It was linked with the Khilafat Movement, led by Ali brothers (Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali).
• Indians boycotted foreign goods, schools, courts and titles.
• The movement was stopped by Gandhi after the Chauri Chaura incident of 5 February 1922 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Swaraj Party was formed in 1923 by C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru.

Simon Commission and the Nehru Report (1927 to 1929)

• The Simon Commission came in 1928 with no Indian member, and Indians shouted "Simon Go Back".
• Lala Lajpat Rai was hurt in the lathi charge at Lahore and died later.
• The Nehru Report of 1928 proposed a constitution for India, and Motilal Nehru was its chairman.
• The Lahore session of 1929 declared Purna Swaraj, and 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930 to 1934)

Quit India Movement and the Final Phase

• The Cripps Mission came to India in March 1942 and failed.
• The Quit India Movement began on 8 August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay, with Gandhi's slogan "Do or Die".
• Jayaprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali and Usha Mehta became well known in this movement.
• The Cabinet Mission came in 1946, and the Constituent Assembly was formed.
• India became independent on 15 August 1947.

Timeline for Quick Memory

Quick Tips

• Learn the movements in a single timeline from 1915 to 1947 and add one detail to each.
• Link the movement with its Viceroy, for example Dandi March with Lord Irwin and Quit India with Lord Linlithgow.
• Remember the names of the pacts with the persons: Gandhi-Irwin Pact and Poona Pact (Gandhi and Ambedkar).
• Revise the Round Table Conferences as a short table of year and Congress participation.

Quick Revision Points

• Champaran (1917) was the first Satyagraha of Gandhi in India.
• The Non-Cooperation Movement was stopped after Chauri Chaura in 1922.
• The Dandi March began on 12 March 1930.
• The Poona Pact was signed in 1932.
• The Quit India Movement began on 8 August 1942.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which was Gandhi's first Satyagraha in India?
   Answer: Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
2. Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement stopped?
   Answer: Because of the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922
3. Where did the Dandi March end?
   Answer: Dandi, in Gujarat
4. Which pact was signed between Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar in 1932?
   Answer: Poona Pact
5. Who gave the Communal Award?
   Answer: Ramsay MacDonald
6. On which date did the Quit India Movement begin?
   Answer: 8 August 1942
7. Which slogan was given by Gandhi in the Quit India Movement?
   Answer: Do or Die
8. Which commission was boycotted by Indians with the slogan "Go Back"?
   Answer: Simon Commission
9. Who was the Viceroy during the Dandi March?
   Answer: Lord Irwin
10. Which Mission came to India in 1942 and failed?
    Answer: Cripps Mission

How to Practise This Chapter

Make a timeline on a single sheet and read it daily. Then attempt questions from our practice papers and check the pattern of questions on the previous year papers page. Read the previous chapter, INC Sessions and Presidents, and the linked chapter Governor-Generals and Viceroys of India. For the next topic after modern history, see the Mughal Empire notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gandhian era in Indian history?

The Gandhian era is the period from 1915 to 1947, when Mahatma Gandhi led the Indian national movement through non-violent methods such as Satyagraha, non-cooperation and civil disobedience.

What was Gandhi's first movement in India?

Gandhi's first Satyagraha in India was the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 in Bihar, against the forced indigo cultivation.

Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement withdrawn?

Gandhi withdrew it in February 1922 after a mob set fire to a police station at Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh and killed policemen.

What was the Dandi March?

The Dandi March was a 24-day walk led by Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi from 12 March to 6 April 1930, to break the salt law and start the Civil Disobedience Movement.

What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?

It was a pact signed in March 1931 between Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin. The Civil Disobedience Movement was paused, and Gandhi agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference.

What was the Poona Pact?

The Poona Pact of 1932 was an agreement between Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar. It gave reserved seats to the depressed classes in the legislature instead of separate electorates.

Which Round Table Conference did Gandhi attend?

Gandhi attended only the Second Round Table Conference, held in London in 1931.

What was the Quit India Movement?

It was the last big movement of Gandhi, started on 8 August 1942, with the demand for an end of British rule and the slogan "Do or Die".

Who led the Khilafat Movement?

The Khilafat Movement was led by Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, and Gandhi supported it along with the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Who was the Viceroy during the Quit India Movement?

Lord Linlithgow was the Viceroy when the Quit India Movement started in 1942.

How can I remember the Gandhian movements easily?

Make a timeline from 1917 to 1942, write one fact for each movement, and revise it every week. Link each movement with its Viceroy and the main person.

How many questions come from the Gandhian era in SSC exams?

Usually one to three questions come from this period in SSC General Awareness papers, so it is one of the most important modern history chapters.